Transcript for Diane Sawyer Sits Down With the Inspirational Malala Yousafzai

Tonight we are awaiting that other nobel. The nobel peace prize historically awarded to men like nelson mandela. The average age of the winner is 62. Tonight the youngest nominee is a 16-year-old girl who spoke up for the 31 million girls around the world who do not get to go to school. She was shot in the head by the taliban, but she emerges tonight with a new book, I am malala, and her message that it's possible for every one of us to change the world. Out of the valley 7,000 miles away a powerful light. We are starving for education. For us it's like a precious gift like a diamond. Reporter: Tonight this child may be the bravest girl in the world. Malala yousafzai who loved her school when out of the shadows came the taliban who banned girls schools, bombed them, terrorized the town with corpses in the street, floging women publicly. Somehow she never lost her certainty that girls also deserve a full life. They cannot stop me. I will get my education if it is in home, school or anyplace. What was the moment you were most afraid that you had the most fear? I was feeling fear all the time at night when I used to sleep I was thinking that shall I put a knife under my pillow? I think a knife is always dangerous. Some people get afraid of it. Some people don't go forward. But some people if they want to achieve their goal, they have to go. Reporter: So somewhat like ann frank she decided to write a diary and sent a message to the world anonymously. At age 11 on camera online one of her first interviews calling for help. We must have the confidence to say that this is going wrong and raise our voice. Reporter: By her side naif gating through fear and hope, her father, a teacher who new she had all possibility. When I saw her for the first time as a newborn child and i looked into her eyes, I fell in love with her, believe me. I love her. Reporter: The "new york times" heard about her and filmed a documentary. Her name was becoming famous inside pakistan. I think we should not put out the camera, okay? Reporter: When the radical taliban decided her message was so strong, they would take her life. With her child-like magical thinking she said she rehearsed what she would say. I would tell that man that i want education for your daughter. Do you think that would work against a gun? I thought it was more important than a gun. Reporter: A year ago in october 2012 she was on a school bus like the one children still ride in pakistan. Her friends were singing. On the day when I was shot, all of my friends faces were covered except mine. Was that wise? It was brave but was it wise? At that time I wanted to live my life was I want Reporter: She says she noticed on that day the road was strangely quiet. I didn't see those men. I just could see like there is no one. There used to be a huge crowd on that road and on that day there was no one. Reporter: Two men approached, one of them with a cold 45. He claims on the bus and asks the question, who is malala. She doesn't remember what happened next. But her friend told her. She said like you said nothing and you were just holding my hand and you just squeezed my hand and you said nothing. She said like you just looked at the men like this. Then she said like, then he fired three, three bullets and one hit you on the left side of my head. I would have been doing like this so I hide my face because there was gunpowder on my fingers. Reporter: A child gravely wounded and how she would survive is simply a testament to miracles. Including the possibility of a specialist from england who happened to be in pakistan and rushed to help save her. The chances of being shot at point blank range in the head and that happening I don't know but it's truly amazing. I don't know why she survived. Someone is theorized maybe his hand was shaking. He hit her there. Miracle? If you believe in miracles, yes, absolutely. Maybe. God saved me. Reporter: Malala says maybe death was just not ready to take her. I think that they want to kill me and god wanted me and the people prayed for me. Reporter: From her speech at the united nations to the possible nobel prize, she has an answer to the question asked by that gunman who is malala. I say I am malala. I'm going to publish a book and I want to tell girls all around the world that education is important. Raise up your voice for education. The thought that the bullet would silence us, but they failed. I am malala. I am malala! Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength and courage was born. We are malala! And tomorrow her new book "i am malala" hits bookshelves. Later this week we'll tell you more about that series of miracles that saved her life and also we'll take younside the world of radical muslims including women, asking them to explain why they think a child could be such a threat. That will be friday, a special edition of "20/20," unbreakable. Abc news exclusive at 10:00 p.M. Eastern.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

Malala Yousafzai: 'I Wanted to Live My Life As I Want'

Young girl who survived being shot in the head by the Taliban talks to Diane Sawyer.

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